Dispensing and displaying means for narrow fabrics



Nov. 28, 1939. J, o s m-g v 2,181,808

DISPENSING AND DISPLAY ING MEANS FOR NARROW FABRICS Filed Au 20, 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 1 l l /I Snnenior 44 Ban-2am 4/. cu s/w 1-H.

Qttomeg Nov. 28, 1939. J, GOLDSMITH 2,181,808

' DISPENSING AND DISPLAYING MEANS FOR NARROW FABRICS Filed Aug; 20, 19373 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSnventor attorney, 7

Nov. 28, 1939. I a. J. GOLDSMETH 2,181,803

DISPENSING AND DISPLAYING MEV LNS FOR NARROW FABRICS s sheets-sheet :5

Filed Aug. 20, 1937 EOLDSMITH,

(Ittomeg BER TRHM J Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDISPENSING AND DISPLAYING DIEANS FO NARROW FABRICS 6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for displaying and dispensing ribbons,bindings, tapes, and other narrow fabrics and to spools and similarput-ups or containers for such fabrics.

One object of the invention is the provision of ribbon packages orcontainers of the spool type constructed and arranged to be used inconjunction with supply and display compartments on the counters orother supports in retail stores.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for dispensing anddisplaying a plurality of ribbons or other narrow fabrics incompartments defined by walls with which the ribbon containers cooperatefor providing the supply and display compartments whereby to facilitatedispensing of, the ribbon and the display thereof,

A further object is to provide a ribbon or other narrow fabric containerdisposed on a store counter in a cell having a supply compartment and adisplay compartment and constructed to facilitate observation of thefabric in said container.

A yet further object of the invention is generally to improve counter orsimilar means for the display and dispensing of a plurality of ribbons,bindings, tapes, etc., which for convenience in reference willhereinafter be referred to as ribbons.

The above objects of the invention, objects ancillary thereto and otherobjects which might hereinafter appear, will be fully understood fromthe following description of the several forms of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a part of a counter display .arrangementembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a spool-container utilized in thearrangement illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of theinvention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ribbon putup utilized in thearrangement illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another form of theinvention;

Fig. 8 is a side View in elevation of the ribbon put-up illustrated inFig. '7; v

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a ribbon putup in accordance withanother form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing yet another form of theinvention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a block used in 5 the arrangementillustrated in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and first to the form ofthe invention il- 10 lustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the ribbon display anddispensing means embodying the present invention comprises, as hereshown, the usual store counter or table In which constitutes a supportfor the ribbon display and dispensing cells de- 15 fined by thepartition walls l2 which, as customarily used in many retail stores, aremade of plate glass, and which are maintained in cell defining relationby suitable means frequently constituted by a plurality of blocks, onedisposed in each cell. Inaccordance with the present invention, suchblocks may be eliminated and in lieu thereof, the ribbon put-up may beutilized not only for maintaining partition walls I2 in cell definingrelation but also for defining the supply and display compartments.Thus, as here shown,

a ribbon put-up or spool-container l6, such as that illustrated in Fig.3, is disposed within each cell defined by walls l2 and the blocksheretofore utilized may be omitted, although it will be understood thatit is within the scope of the present invention to place put-up it uponthe blocks as heretofore customarily used.

. Spool-container 16 comprises non-circular, preferably square oroblong, end walls or flanges I8 composed of any suitable material, forexample, cardboard, fibre board, metal, etc. assembled in fixed spacedrelation with a metal pin or spindle 20 at right angles to the spoolaxis. The ribbon-roll 22 is wound or otherwise arranged on a suitablecore 24 between flanges l8, said core and the ribbon mounted thereonbeing rotatable about pin or spindle 20. The top flange ofspoolcontainer It is provided with an opening 26 for the passage of theribbon from the supply compartment below said flange to the displaycompartment thereabove It will be understood that in lieu of opening 26a passage for the ribbon from the supply compartment to the dispensingcompartment may be provided by dimensioning upper flange [8 so that atleast one edge or one edge portion thereof is spaced somewhat from theadjacent partition'wall l2 to provide an opening between said partitionwall and said edge or edge portion of flange 18 The ribbon .55

put-up of spool-container lfia, illustrated in Fig. 4, is substantiallythe same as spool-container l6, except that the flanges l8a. are formedin integral relation with a side wall portion 28. Also as here shown,upper flange I80. has a notch 36 in one side edge thereof to provide apassage for the ribbon from the supply compartment to the displaycompartment.

It will be understood that in utilizing the spoolcontainers I 6 or [toin the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, said spool-containers,including the ribbon-rolls mounted therein, having been supplied to theretail stores, in lieu of ordinary spools of ribbon as heretofore, willbe'arranged in the cells defined by walls l2, being supported preferablydirectly upon the top of counter or table it, although said containers,specially when the ribbons are narrow, may be placed upon the blockshereinbefore referred to. By reason of the non-circular formation of theflanges of said containers, the latter are non-rotatable when disposedin their compartments, while the rotatable mounting of the ribbon-rollincluding its core 2-";

between the flanges of said containers permits the ribbon to be readilywithdrawn from the supply compartment below top wall or flange I8 to thedisplay compartment above said flange, for dispensing the ribbonwhen-making a sale and for displaying a quantity of the ribbon in thedisplay compartment. The quantity of ribbon thus displayed is supportedon upper flange l8 which thus constitutes a bottom wall of the displaycompartment. It will be understood that in lieu of rotatably mountingthe ribbon-roll, the ribbon may be wound directly about pin 20 as a corefor the ribbon-roll wound in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9 of UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 2,082,- 489, granted June 1, 1937, on anapplication filed by me, whereby the ribbon may be unwound free fromtwist while the roll as a whole is stationary.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. and 6 the ribbonput-up or spool-container 32 is similar to container 16 except thatbottom flange 34 is substantially smaller than top flange 35, said topflange being square, while flange 34 optionally may be circular ornon-circular. Said flanges are held in fixed spaced relation by a pin orspindle 38 about which ribbon-roll 22 and the core 2 on which it ismounted are rotatable as a unit. As here shown an opening 48 is providedin flange 35 for the passage of the ribbon from the supply compartmentbelow said flange to the display compartment thereabove.Ribbon-container 32 is supported, as illustrated in Fig. 5, upon theupper edges of open-top recessed means here shown as a hollow block orreceptacle 52, flange 35 resting on the .upper edge of said block withthe ribbon-roll 22 depending from said flange into recess M of saidblock. Said flange 36 thus constitutes the top wall of the receptacle.If desired, in lieu of a hollow block 2, a box provided with a bottom(not shown) and forming a part of the ribbon put-up or container may beutilized. It will be understood that the outer periphery of block 32 ispreferably non-circular and that said block is so dimensioned that itengages the cell defining walls 12 for maintaining said walls invertical position, thus taking the place of the usual solid blocksheretofore provided in counter arrangements. Hollow blocks 42 arepreferred as they provide means for supporting spools of difiefentwidths so that ribbons of various widths may be mounted in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 5. It will be understood. that top flange 35, beingnon-circular and closely adjacent walls 24, is held against rotationwhen ribbon is withdrawn from roll 22 into the display compartment,although it is within the scope of the pres ent invention to make flange36 circular and to secure said flange against rotation by a few tacksdriven therethrough and into block 42. It will also be understood thatthe ribbon-roll may be non-rotatably mounted in relation to pin 38 asfor example, when the ribbon-roll is wound in the manner previouslyreferred to in connection with Fig. 9 of the above mentioned patent. Asshown in Figs. 5 and 6, spool-container 32 is removably secured to block42 by spring clips 43 secured to the opposite outer sides of said blockin recesses 45 and projecting above the upper edge of the block inreleasable engagement with flange 36. The same or similar releasablesecuring means may be used instead of tacks when the flange spool iscircular.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the ribbonput-up M5 may comprise any conventional spool 18 on which theribbon-roll 5G is wound. Spool 48 being rotatably associated with aplate 52 about a pin or spindle 5d fixed toand depending from saidplate. mounted in the same manner as flange 36, or if preferred, hollowblock 42 may be dispensed with and spool 48 may rest directly upon thetop of counter IE3. Plate 52 is provided with an opening 56 for thepassage of the ribbon from the supply'compartment below said plate tothe display compartment thereabove. It will be under- Plate 52 maybestood that spool t8 is initially separate from plate 52 and isremovably mounted on pin or spindle 54 for rotation about the latterwhen ribbon is dispensed. When plate 521s associated with'a support suchas block 62, it may be either circular or non-circular, and whennon-circular, it may be held against rotation by securing said plate tosaid block in any suitable way as by removable tacks or screws or by asuitable adhesive.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the ribbon-container may be mounted with theaxis of the ribbon-roll horizontally disposed instead of verticallydisposed as in the above described forms of the in vention. For thispurpose a ribbon-container 58 similar to the ribbon-container We may beutilized in conjunction with a member to having a wall 62 which definesthe bottom wall of the display compartment when arranged betweenpartition walls I2. Member 55, as here shown, is also provided with sidewalls 54 by which said member is supported above the bottom of counterNJ. The connecting wall 65 between flanges $8 of putup'58 is providedwith an opening which registers with the opening ii! in thetop wall 52thereby providing a passage for the ribbon from. the roll E2 in thesupply compartment below wall 62 to the display compartment above saidwall. It will be understood that in the arrangements illustrated inFigs. '7 to 9, the ribbon rolls and it may be non-rotatably mounted, inwhich case said rolls may be of the type illustrated in Fig. 9 of thepatent hereinbefore mentioned.

In Figs. 10 to'12, there is shown an arrangement which is similar tothat illustrated in Figs.

5 and 6, except that provision is made for disposing within a singlecounter cell two spool-containers both of which supply'ribbon for thedisplay compartment of said cell, Thus, as here;

shown, two spools 32, such as that shown in Fig. 5, are assembled with areceptacle comprising a block 80 which has a recess 82 deep enough toaccommodate said spools in spaced relation and to allow for ribbons ofvarying widths. Flange 36.

of upper spool 32 engages the upper edge of the block and is releasablysecured in position by spring clips 84, and flange 36 of the lower blockis positioned between the top of table it and the lower edge of saidblock. Said flange thus constitutes the topwall of the receptacle.Flange 36 of spool 32 is provided with notches 4| and 43 for the passageof the ribbon, in lieu of an opening 40. Block Bil is provided with anupper recess 86 which registers with notch 4| for the passage of theribbon from upper spool 32 to the display compartment above the flangeof said spool. Said block is also provided with a lower recess 88 whichcommunicates with a side recess 99 in the block forming a passage forthe ribbon from the lower spool 32 to the display compartment aboveflange 36 of the upper spool, notch 43 of said flange being in registrywith recess 98 when upper spool 32 is positioned in the cell as shown.

As clearly shown in the drawings, in reference to each form of theinvention, the opening for the passage of the ribbon from the supplycompartment or container to the display compartment of the cell ispositioned in spaced relation radially of the spool axis and outwardlyof the periphery of the ribbon roll so that rotation of the roll is notinterfered with when the ribbon is drawn through said opening. When theaxis of the spool is vertical, the ribbon is turned upwardly from theroll for passage through said opening. While I have shown and describedseveral embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that thelatter may be embodied otherwise than as here shown. It will also beunderstood that in the constructions herein shown or described certainchanges maybe made and will occur to those skilled in the art,particularly in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, I do notwish to be limited precisely to the present embodiments or to any ofthem specifically, except as may be required by the appended claimsconsidered with reference to the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics in which areceptacle for a spool of ribbon is mounted within a cell defined byvertical walls and forms with said walls a supply compartment in thelower part of said cell and a display compartment in the upper part ofsaid cell, said receptacle having a top wall carrying a spindledepending therefrom and projecting within the spool opening, whensaidspool is positioned horizontally in said receptacle, for guiding thespool in the. rotation thereof whilebeing unwound, said wall carryingthe spindle being shaped and proportioned in relation to saidcell-defining walls to permit the passage of the ribbon from the spindleside of the top wall to the outer side thereof in the displaycompartment.

2. Means for displaying ribbons 'or other narrow fabrics in which areceptacle for a spool of ribbon is mounted within a cell defined by vertical walls and forms with said walls a supply compartment in the lowerpart of said cell and a display compartment in the upper part of saidcell, said receptacle having a removable top wall carrying a spindledepending therefrom and projecting within the spool opening, when saidspool is positioned horizontally in said receptacle, for guiding thespool in the rotation thereof while being unwound, said receptaclehaving a side wall provided with an opening for the passage of theribbon from the spindle side of the top wall to the outer side thereofin the display compartment.

3. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics in which areceptacle for a spool of ribbon is mounted within a cell defined byvertical walls and forms with said walls a supply compartment in thelower part of said cell and a display compartment in the upper part ofsaid cell, said receptacle having a removable, top wall carrying aspindle depending therefrom and proiecting within the spool opening,when said spool is positioned horizontally in said receptacle, forguiding the spool in the rotation thereof while being unwound, saidreceptacle having a side wall provided with a recess in its upper edgeportion for the passage of the ribbon from the spindle side of the topwall to the outer side thereof in the display compartment.

a. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising areceptacle for a spool of ribbon, said receptacle constructed andarranged to be mounted within a cell defined by vertical walls and toform therewith a supply compartment in the lower part of the cell and adisplay compartment in the upper part of the cell, said receptaclehaving a top wall and a spindle carried by and depending from said topwall and projecting within the spool opening, when said spool ispositioned horizontally in said receptacle, for guiding the spool in therotation thereof while being unwound, said wall being provided withmeans for the passage of the ribbon from the spindle side of the wall tothe outer side thereof in the display compartment.

Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising areceptacle for a plurality of spools of ribbons, said receptacle havinga re-' movable top and being constructed and arranged to be fittedwithin a cell defined by vertical walls and to form a supply compartmentand a display compartment in said cell and having an opening for thepassage of the ribbon from the receptacle to said display compartment,said receptacle having a spindle projecting upwardly from the bottomthereof and a spindle depending from said top thereof projecting,respectively, into the spool openings, when the spoolsare positionedhorizontally in said receptacle, for guiding the spools in the rotationthereof during the unwinding thereof for passage of the ribbon from thereceptacle.

6. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising areceptacle for a plurality of spools of'ribbons, said receptacle beingconstruot- :1

ed and arranged to be positioned within a cell defined by vertical wallsand to form a supply compartment and a display compartment in said cell,said receptacle. having opposed side walls thereof provided withrecesses in the upper edge portions thereof forming passages for theribbon from said spools to the display compartment, and a removable topsupported on said side walls, said receptacle having a spindleprojecting upwardly from BERTRAM J. GOLDSMITH.

